Flexible panel protector for uppermost springs of sofa beds

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are elongate flexible panel protectors having elongate frontal stiffener means, the panel protector being adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed. The elongate panel protector serves one or more of the following separate purposes: prevents the sofa seating cushions from being abrasively worn by the closeably collapsed uppermost springs; conceals and even aesthetically decorates the unsightly uppermost springs in the event a seating cushion is dislodged from the sofa bed; and provides an intermediate cushiony effect between the uppermost springs and the removable cushions to enhance the comfort for seated occupants. The elongate panel protector does not interfere with the opening operation of the sofa bed into its forwardly extended or sleeping condition, and in the hammock-like use form thereof remains with the forwardly extended bed.

United States Patent [191 Schneider 1 1 FLEXIBLE PANEL PROTECTOR FOR UPPERMOST SPRINGS OF SOFA BEDS [52] U.S. C1 5/354 R; 5/13 [51] Int. Cl. A47C 23/00; A47C 17/04 [58] Field of Search 5/354, 354 B, 13, 51 P, 5/322 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1962 Thierfelder et a1. 5/13 3/1966 Peterson 1 1 1 r 5/322 1/1967 Hoffman 1 t 5/13 4/1968 Mikos 5/13 X Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. Calvert Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George R. Nimmer [111 3,892,001 [4 1 July 1,1975

[57] ABSTRACT Disclosed are elongate flexible panel protectors having elongate frontal stiffener means, the panel protector being adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed. The elongate panel protector serves one or more of the following separate purposes: prevents the sofa seating cushions from being abrasively worn by the closeably collapsed uppermost springs; conceals and even aesthetically decorates the unsightly uppermost springs in the event a seating cushion is dislodged from the sofa bed; and provides an intermediate cushiony effect between the uppermost springs and the removable cushions to enhance the comfort for seated occupants. The elongate panel protect does not interfere with the opening operation oft esofa bed into its forwardly extended or sleeping condition, and in the hammock-like use form thereof remains with the forwardly extended bed.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET JUL m wt

FLEXIBLE PANEL PROTECTOR FOR UPPERMOST SPRINGS OF SOFA BEDS Closeably-openable sofa beds are well known in the prior art as typified by US. Pat. No. 2.576.062(BebryNov. 20, 1951) and US. Pat. No. 3,281.870(KatzNov. l. 1966). Such sofa beds have a foldable springs system which when forwardly extended permit an occupant to sleep or recline thereon. and which when rearwardly closeably collapsed permit an occupant to sit on seating cushions which are removably superimposed upon the uppermost of the collapsed springs system. Traditionally. the springs system comprises a plurality of criss-crossing horizontal cables which cables are individually attached by coil-springs to the sofa bed chassis. In addition. for the more modern sofa beds, the foldable springs system has four pivotably associated folding sections including a terminal front-section which provides the uppermost springs of the closeably collapsed sofa bed.

Certain problems and deficiencies have plagued the sofa bed industry. The removably positioned seating cushions during extended flexural use tend to become abraded and damaged by the underlying uppermost springs (e.g. the criss-corssing horizontal cables) of the collapsed sofa structure. Too. the uppermost springs of the collapsed sofa bed present a very unsightly appearance if the seating cushions are removed, as might occur purposely ancillary to sales demonstrations or through accidental dislodgement at the consumers household. Merchandisers and users of sofa beds have attempted to combat these problems by carefully and laboriously inserting a folded blanket or bedsheet between the uppermost springs and the seating cushions; however. such folded sheets of fabric readily become clisarrayed and lumpy during seating use. Another problem plagueing the industry is that sofa beds have inferior comfort for seated occupants as compared to uni-purpose davenports and divans. The foldable springs system of dual-purpose sofa beds in the closeably-collapsed form is so vertically lofty that there is practically no available space in which to build optimal seating comfort into the sofa bed.

lt is accordingly the general object of the present invention to overcome the several problems and deficiencies heretofore associated with sofa beds and particularly for the seating use thereof when the foldable springs system is in the closeably collapsed form.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an elongate flexible cushiony panel protector that is adapted to be readily inserted between the removable seating cuhsions and the uppermost springs of closeably collapsed sofa beds and which will remain in neat flat horizontal condition during extended seating use of the sofa bed. In this way. the flexible panel protector prevents abrasive damage to the seating cushions by the uppermost springs and also conceals the unsightly springs in the event that the seating conditions are removed.

It is another object to provide a means for enhancing the overally aesthetic appearance of closeably collapsed sofa beds in the event a seating cushion is dislodged or otherwise removed. yet which does not detract from the ease of operationally opening the folded springs system ancillary to attaining the sleeping bed condition.

It is a further object to provide an elongate flexible protector which effectively enhances the seating comfort of the sofa bed and without appreciably increasing the overall vertical height dimension of the closeably collapsed sofa bed. It is a related object to further enhance the sofa bed seating comfort by providing optional means for desireably resiliently suspendably attaching the elongate padded protector in hammocklike fashion between the springs.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view. which will become more apparent as this description proceeds. the flexible panel protector generally comprises an elongate flexible horizontal envelope having a base-sheet with its bottom surface being adapted to abuttably rest against the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed and having a cover-sheet with an exposed attractive upper-surface. flexible resiliently compressible padding as self-sustaining laminar sheet material enclosed within and extending coextensively along the envelope. said laminar padding finiteheight being as a judicial ratio with respect to the envelope width. and elongate stiffener means attached to and for stiffening the envelope elongate front-side whereby the horizontal protector remains neatly flatly horizontal during seating use and can be readily lifted by the user at the frontal central portion thereof without buckling or distorting the elongated protector.

In the drawing. wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views. and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a typical embodiment of the flexible panel protector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a laterally extending elevational end view of the FIG. 1 embodiment. phantom lines indicating a testing and/or removing operation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. Sis a laterally extending elevational view of a typical sofa bed springs system in the closeably collapsed form and with the FIG. 1 protector embodiment in a hammock-like combination therewith.

FIG. 6 is a laterally extending elevational view of the H6. 5 sofa bed springs system in forwardly extended bed form.

The elongate flexible panel protector 9 generally comprises an elongate flexible horizontal envelope 10 having an upper cover-sheet portion 17 overlying a lower base-sheet portion 15 which is directly flatly abuttably superimposeable upon a suitable horizontal underlying substrate e.g. uppermost cables-type springs S ofa closeably collapsed sofa bed. Enclosed within the envelope l0 and extending along its horizontal centralaxis 10A is a flexible resiliently compressible padding 20 as selfsustaining laminar sheet material, which laminar padding finite-height 29 bears a defined small ratio with respect to the envelope finite-width 19. There is elongate stiffener means (e.g. 30, 21) which maintains the elongate envelope 10 from buckling and its elongate front-side ll horizontal when lifted as alluded to in FIG. 2.

Elongate flexible horizontal envelope ]0 has on opposite sides of central-axis 10A a pair of opposed horizontal elongated extremities including a front-side ll and a rear-side l2 whereby envelope 10 too has an elongated finite-length extending along central-axis lOA. Preferably. envelope 10 is of elongated rectangular shape (FIG. 1) including a pair of linearly laterally extending parallel ends such as first-end 13 and secondend 14 and including a pair of linearly elongated parallel sides such as firstside 11 and rear-side 12. The envelope average finite-length (e.g. between ends 13 and 14) is sufficiently elongated compared to the envelope finite-width (cg. 19 between parallel sides 11 and 12) as to bear a ratio of at least two and less than five. The envelope includes an elongated flexible horizontal base-sheet portion 15 having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a top surface 15A at padding 20 and a bottom surface 155 which broadly contacts the sofa bed uppermost springs *S. In addition, the envelope includes an elongate flexible horizontal cover-sheet portion 17 having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including an visibly exposed upper surface 17A upon which seating cushions C removably rest and a lower surface 178 at padding 20.

Preferably, the envelope cover-sheet and base-sheet portions are of aptly selected and differing sheet material types. The base-sheet 15 should be of relatively tougher construction so as to be abrasively-resistant to wear thereagainst by the sofa springs horizontal cables during flexural seating occupancy (e.g. at C") of the sofa bed. In this vein, fiber-glass or similar fibrousreinforced sheet material. as indicated as 155 in FIG. 4, is preferred. The cover-sheet 17 should be a furniture upholstery type sheet material to give an aesthetic and decorative appearance to the protector 9 if the seating cushions C are removed. In this regard, a pile type upholstery sheet material is indicated as 175 in FIG. 4. Too, for aesthetic and other reasons, when two such differing coversheet and base-sheet are attached together to form the envelope 10, the cover-sheet 17 should itself provide the front-side l1 and rear-side 12 extremities for the envelope.

Enclosed within the envelope and extending along its central-axis 10A is a flexible resiliently compressible padding as self-sustaining laminar sheet material. Padding is preferably of a continuous uninterrupted length of polyurethane or other analagous foamy resinous sheet material, the preponderant and preferably the entire padding sheet being of a constant thickness which gives the envelope a regular finite-height 29. The padding thickness dimension is judiciously chosen that the ratio of the padded envelope finite-width 19 to its finite-height 29 bears a ratio within the range of 20 to 50. Accordingly, with such moderate-thickness laminar paddings, the seating comfort for a sofa is surprisingly enhanced and without inimicably increasing the lofty height for the seating cushions C.

The elongate protector device 9 includes elongate stiffener means for particularly stiffening the envelope elongate front'side 11 whereby the generally flexible horizontal protector panel is made to remain lying neatly flatly downwardly against the criss-crossed cables uppermost springs 8" when the sofa bed is in closeably collapsed seating form. Moreover, the stiffening means facilitates ready removal of the protector device without inimicably buckling same prepatory to opening the sofa into forwardly extended bed form. For these purposes, an adequate stiffening means for the envelope front-edge might be defined to exist so that (as indicated in FIG. 2), when the stiffened protector 9 is manually lifted by an upward force applied solely at a frontal central portion thereof, the envelope elongate front-side 11 remains substantially linearly horizontal and buckling of the envelope more rearward parts (e.g. at 10A) is precluded.

Two specific elongate stiffener means are shown in the drawing, and preferably both shown are utilized synergistically. For one, it is contemplated that the cover-sheet 17 is tightly sewn with linear stitching rows 18 through the intervening padding 20 to the base-sheet 15 to provide a semi-compressed annular bead 18A around the entire envelope periphery. The tight bead 18A along envelope front-side 11 as 21 provides an aesthetically appealing semi-rigid stiffener means. Another type stiffener means comprises an elognate metallic bar 30 of rectangular cross-sectional shape locatable slightly rearwardly of and along envelope frontside 11. Preferably, the elongate metallic bar 30 is attached to the envelope with an intervening flexible sheet material flap 16 whereby the metallic stiffener bar 30 is foldably locatable beneath and coextensively attached along the tight bead part 21, as indicated in FIGS. 1-3. Herein, the metallic stiffener bar 30 is attached to the intervening flap 16 with a plurality of separate mechanical fasteners, such as the spreadable wing type fasteners 31 spaced at increments along and passing through bar 30 and elongate flap 16. The head part 32 of the spreadable wing type fasteners 31 is desireably upholstered and located at the bar 30 remote of flap 16, to give an aesthetic appearance when the spreadable wings 33 are attached to the sofa bed chassis (FIGS. 5 and 6).

There is desireably resiliently stretchable suspender means attached to the envelope, the suspender means being laterally rearwardly extendable and stretchable (e.g. phantom line 40R in FIG. 1) from the envelope rear-side extremity (e.g. 12). The preferred form of suspender means comprises a plurality of resiliently stretchable elastic straps 40 and stationed at widely separated intervals along the envelope rearward portion, as by utilizing the same stitching 18 as for rear bead 22. Two such elastic straps 40 (having stretchable condition 40R) at each of four separated intervals 41-44 are shown in FIG. I, which straps are adapted to be tied to the sofa bed chassis, such as uppermost springs rearward cable S40. coincidentally too, as indicated in FIG. 5, supplementing the straps tied to the rearward part 840 of the uppermost springs S, the protector panel frontal part is attached through mechanical fasteners 31 to the forward part of the closeably col lapsed sofa bed. This hammock-like resilient attachment of the protector panel 9 across the closeablycollapsed (FIG. 5) sofa bed uppermost springs S complements and greatly enhances the sofa bed seating comfort. Moreover, as indicated in FIG. 6, the pane protector 9 does not interfere with the forwardlyextension of the sofa bed into sleeping condition, and physically remains in combination therewith, as an upwardly linearly bowed but non-buckled form.

From the foregoing, the construction and operational use of the flexible panel protector for the uppermost springs of sofa beds will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will be readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An elongate felexible panel protector adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of closeably-collapsed sofa beds. said protector panel extending along an elongate linear horizontal central-axis and comprising:

A. An elongate flexible horizontal envelope having a pair of opposed horizontal elongated extremities including a front-side and a rear-side. said envelope comprising an elongate flexible base-sheet having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a top surface and a bottom surface which is directly abuttably superimposeable against the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed, said envelope also comprising a flexible elongate coversheet attached to the base-sheet and having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a lowersurface and an exposed upper-surface for the removable seating cushions to rest upon;

8. Flexible resiliently compressible padding as selfsustaining laminar sheet material enclosed within and extending along the elongate envelope; and

C. Elongate stiffener means attached to and for stiffening the elongate envelope front-side whereby when the stiffened protector is lifted by an upward force applied solely at a frontal central portion thereof. the envelope elongate frontside remains horizontally linear and buckling of the envelope rearward portions is minimized.

2. The panel protector of claim 1 wherein the envelope is of generally rectangular shape including a linearly extending front-side that is substantially parallel to a linearly extending rear-side whereby the envelope has an average finite-length and a regular finite-width, the ratio of finite-length to finite-width exceeding two; wherein the envelope comprises a cover-sheet which is attached to a differing sand togher base-sheet; and wherein the preponderant portion of the laminar padding is of constant thickness whereby the padded envelope has a regular finite-height. the ratio of envelope finite-width to finite-height being within the range of twenty to fifty,

3. The panel protector of claim 2 wherein the tougher base-sheet is a fibrous-reinforced sheet material; wherein the cover-sheet is upholstery fabric which itself aesthetically provides the front-side and rear-side extremities for the envelope; wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material; and wherein the stiffener means comprises an elongate metallic bar attached to the envelope with an intervening flexible eiongste flap whereby the metallic bar is locatsble under the base-sheet.

4. The panel protector of claim 1 wherein the envelope hss a linearly extending front-side extremity; and

wherein there is resiliently stretchable suspender means attached to the envelope, said suspender means being laterally rearwardly extendable and resiliently stretchable of the envelope rear-side extremity.

5. The panel protector of claim 4 wherein the envelope is of generally rectangular shape including a linearly extending rear-side extremity; wherein the stiffener means comprises an elongate metallic bar; and wherein the suspender means comprises a plurality of resiliently stretchable straps and stationed at separated intervals along the envelope rearward portion.

6. The panel protector of claim 5 wherein the envelope comprises a cover-sheet which is attached to a differing and tougher base-sheet; wherein the elongate metallic bar siffener means is attached to the envelope with an intervening flap of flexible sheet material. said elongate bar at increments therealong being attached to the elongate flap with a plurality of separate mechanical fasteners which are also adapted to attach the protector panel to the sofa bed chassis.

7. The panel protector of claim 6 wherein the envelope base-sheet comprises a fibrous-reinforced tough sheet material; wherein an upholstery fabric coversheet is sewn to the base-sheet and through the enclosed laminar padding to provide a peripheral bead for the envelope; wherein the mechanical fasteners are of the spreadable wings type and having an upholstered head portion at the stiffener bar; wherein for the suspender means there is a plurality of resiliently stretchable straps at each said interval station and respectively adapted to be tied to the sofa bed chassis; and wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material.

8. The panel protector of claim 6 wherein the coversheet aesthetically provides the linear front-side and rear-side extremities for the envelope; wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material; and wherein there is a plurality of resiliently strtchable straps at each said interval station for the suspender means.

9. The panel protector of claim 8 in hammock-like physical combination with a closesbly collapsed sofa bed structure. the resiliently stretchable straps being tied to the rearward portion of the sofa bed uppermost springs and the metallic bar stiffener means being attached with the spreadable wings mechanical fasteners to the forward portion of the uppermost springs whereby the panel protector is made into hammocklike suspended fashion across the uppermost springs to further enhance and augment seating comfort for the closesbly collapsed sofa bed. said attached panel protector remaining in attached non-interfering relationship with the forwsrdly extended sleeping condition of the sofa bed.

ll l ll 

1. An elongate felexible panel protector adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of closeably-collapsed sofa beds, said protector panel extending along an elongate linear horizontal central-axis and comprising: A. An elongate flexible horizontal envelope having a pair of opposed horizontal elongated extremities including a front-side and a rear-side, said envelope comprising an elongate flexible base-sheet having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a top surface and a bottom surface which is directly abuttably superimposeable against the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed, said envelope also comprising a flexible elongate cover-sheet attached to the base-sheet and having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a lower-surface and an exposed upper-surface for the removable seating cushions to rest upon; B. Flexible resiliently compressible padding as self-sustaining laminar sheet material enclosed within and extending along the elongate envelope; and C. Elongate stiffener means attached to and for stiffening the elongate envelope front-side whereby when the stiffened protector is lifted by an upward force applied solely at a frontal central portion thereof, the envelope elongate frontside remains horizontally linear and buckling of the envelope rearward portions is minimized.
 2. The panel protector of claim 1 wherein the envelope is of generally rectangular shape including a linearly extending front-side that is substantially parallel to a linearly extending rear-side whereby the envelope has an average finite-length and a regular finite-width, the ratio of finite-length to finite-width exceeding two; wherein the envelope comprises a cover-sheet which is attached to a differing sand togher base-sheet; and wherein the preponderant portion of the laminar padding is of constant thickness whereby the padded envelope has a regular finite-height, the ratio of envelope finite-width to finite-height being within the range of twenty to fifty.
 3. The panel protector of claim 2 wherein the tougher base-sheet is a fibrous-reinforced sheet material; wherein the cover-sheet is upholstery fabric which itself aesthetically provides the front-side and rear-side extremities for the envelope; wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material; and wherein the stiffener means comprises an elongate metallic bar attached to the envelope with an intervening flexible elongate flap whereby the metallic bar is locatable under the base-sheet.
 4. The panel protector of claim 1 wherein the envelope has a linearly extending front-side extremity; and wherein there is resiliently stretchable suspender means attached to the envelope, said suspender means being laterally rearwardly extendable and resiliently stretchable of the envelope rear-side extremity.
 5. The panel protector of claim 4 wherein the envelope is of generally rectangular shape including a linearly extending rear-side extremity; wherein the stiffener means comprises an elongate metallic bar; and wherein the suspender means comprises a plurality of resiliently stretchable straps and stationed at separated intervals along the envelope rearward portion.
 6. The panel protector of claim 5 wherein the envelope comprises a cover-sheet which is attached to a differing and tougher base-sheet; wherein the elongate metallic bar siffener means is attached to the envelope with an intervening flap of flexible sheet material, said elongate bar at increments therealong being attached to the elongate flap with a plurality of separate mechanical fasteners which are also adapted to attach the protector panel to the sofa bed chassis.
 7. The panel protector of claim 6 wherein the envelope base-sheet comprises a fibrous-reinforced tough sheet material; wherein an upholstery fabric cover-sheet is sewn to the base-sheet and through the enclosed laminar padding to provide a peripheral bead for the envelope; wherein the mechanical fasteners are of the spreadable wings type and having an upholstered head portion at the stiffener bar; wherein for the suspender means there is a plurality of resiliently stretchable straps at each said interval station and respectively adapted to be tied to the sofa bed chassis; and wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material.
 8. The panel protector of claim 6 wherein the coversheet aesthetically provides the linear front-side and rear-side extremities for the envelope; wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material; and wherein there is a plurality of resiliently strtchable straps at each said interval station for the suspendEr means.
 9. The panel protector of claim 8 in hammock-like physical combination with a closeably collapsed sofa bed structure, the resiliently stretchable straps being tied to the rearward portion of the sofa bed uppermost springs and the metallic bar stiffener means being attached with the spreadable wings mechanical fasteners to the forward portion of the uppermost springs whereby the panel protector is made into hammock-like suspended fashion across the uppermost springs to further enhance and augment seating comfort for the closeably collapsed sofa bed, said attached panel protector remaining in attached non-interfering relationship with the forwardly extended sleeping condition of the sofa bed. 